Providing cinematographers, broadcasters, and video industry professionals with a growing range of acquisition solutions, Canon has expanded its array of HD optics for the XL H1 HD camcorder with a new 6X wide angle HD zoom lens. Building upon an already growing system of accessories, the Canon HD Video Lens 6X Zoom XL 3.4-20.4mm L lens gives XL H1 HD camcorder users greater creative control in a variety of shooting conditions. Available in November, the lens will carry an estimated selling price of $2,999.

Canon reserves the "L-series" designation (denoted by a red-stripe around the lens) for its highest quality photographic lenses. The 6X XL Wide 3.4 - 20.4mm L-series zoom lens features UA (Ultra High Refractive Index Aspherical) glass elements to produce high-quality HD images with low distortion. All lens elements are treated with a multi-coating to reduce flare and ghosting The new wide-angle lens provides users with an extensive range of focal lengths from 24.5 to 147mm (in 35mm photographic terms) that would otherwise not be possible with a fixed lens, giving shooters the versatility of a zoom and the creativity of a wide-angle lens.

To take that a step further, the lens features a manual iris ring (maximum aperture of f/1.6 - 2.6) and a distance display function to aid focus, so users can more accurately control the exposure and feel of their shot. The lens allows users to switch between two Neutral Density filters (1/6, 1/32) for best performance in bright lighting conditions. The lens includes a Minimum Object Distance (MOD) feature, which creates a AF range suitable for normal shooting situations from one meter to infinity. This feature prevents the lens from focusing on dust particles that can occasionally appear on the surface of the lens. For macro applications, the AF range can be extended to a minimum focusing distance of 20mm.

Canon also built focus and zoom presets into the lens for ease-of-use when shooting.